Steam engine



May 1 2, 1925. 1,537,892

A. T. sMl'rH l STEAM ENGINE Filed April 18, 1922 30 2l '/48-/3 al /f INVENTOR.

By ATTORNEY -Tit Patented May 12, 1925.

UNITED STATES ANTHONY T. SMITH, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

STEAM ENGINE.

Application filed April 18, 1922. Serial No. 554,816.

Ta all whom il? may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTHONY T. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Steam Engine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide an improved valve structure especially designed for utilization in connection with steam engines of the type wherein two spaced and connected separate pistons are mounted for reciprocation in the cylinder, the construction and arrangement of the valve being such as to alternately admit live steam to the opposite extremities of the cylinder to effect simultaneous reciprocation of the pistons, said valve also coacting with exhaust ports communicating with the Vopposite extremities of the cylinder for alternately exhausting the steam therefrom.

A further object is the provision of a valve for engines of this type which shall be of extremely simple and compact construction and wherein the lmovement of the valve is extremely limited and consequently its durability enhanced.

lith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out inthe claims and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the improved engine, the crank shaft being broken away to illustrate the operating` mechanism for the valve.

Fig. 2 represents an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the valve` casing, and,

Fig. 3 represents a transverse sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4 4, Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail wherein similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 indicates a suitable supporting base having uprights 6 mounted centrally thereon supporting the steam engine cylinder 7. Cross head guides 8 are attached to one end of the cylinder 7 and are supported at their opposite extremities upon a part of the engine frame. The crank shaft l;

bearings are indicated at 9 and in which the crank shaft 10 is journaled. Spaced pistons 11 are mounted for reciprocatory movement in the cylinder 7 and are connected by a pis-A` ton rod 12 carrying a cross head 13 which` `v` latter is mounted to travel in the guides 8 and is connected by pitman 14E with the crank pin of the shaft 10.

The opposite extremities ofthe cylinder 7"n are provided with lateral ports 15 designed to conduct steam to and from the extremities of the cylinder during reciprocation of the pistons 11. The central portion of the cylinder 7 intermediate the pistons 11 is provided with a relief port 16 having communication with the atmosphere whereby any pressure between the inner opposed ends of the pistons is reduced to a minimum.

A substantially rectangular valve casing 17 is bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the cylinder 7 and the opposite open extremities thereof communicate with .the ports 15 formed in the opposite extremities of the cylinder. Arranged within the casing 17 is a pair of vert-ical partitions 18 having the intermediate portions thereof curved, as at 19, and with the curved portions 19 oppositely disposed with respect to each other. Projecting from the upper end of each of p said partitions is a longitudinally disposed extension of substantial length and from the lower end a longitudinally extending partition 27 of substantial length. The extensions 25, 27 of one partition 18 are oppositely disposed with respect to the extensions 25, .27v of the other partition 18.

The casing 17, centrally of its top and bottom, is formed with an inwardly extending nipple of substantial lengthand which is interiorly threaded. The inner edge of each of the nipples is of curved contour so as to form a continuation of the arc upon which the inner faces of the curved portions 19 of the partitions 18 extend.

The nipple carried by the top wall of the casing 17 is indicated at 2O and which depends into the casing 17 and has the curved inner end thereof indicated at 21. The nipple 20 opposes for a portion of its length, as well as being spaced from both of the partitions 18. Extending into the nipple 2() and threadably engaging therewith is a steam supply pipe 21.

The nipple carried byl the bottom wall of the casing 17 is indicated at 22 and which i respect to li'tlie `passages 27. 4.ov

curved portions 19 of the partitions 1S" provide centrally of the casing 17, a valve chamber 18.

The nipple 20,-in connection with the-upper ends ofi the' partitions 1S provides a pair of supply po-rts 24., adapted to communicate with a. pair of oppositelyk extending supplypassages 25, formedby thetop Wall of the casing 17in connection with the longitudinally disposed extensions 25', which are. formed integral with and project from the,

upper ends of" the partitions 1S. The supply passages 25 open into the casing 17, at a point slightly removed from the ports 15.

The nipple 22, in connection with the lower ends Vof the partitions 1S provide a pair of exhaust ports 2,6, adapted to communicatewith a pair of oppositely-extend- 1 ing exhaust-,passages.27,.formed by the bottomfwallofrthe casing 17 in connection with vthe longitudinally disposed-extensions .27,

which vareformed integral with and project- -from theflower ends of-:the ypartitions 18Cr Theexhaust 5 passages 27 open .into the ca sing 17,l at va,point slightly. removed lfrom the portsv15. i

i Thepassages 2,5;are arranged parallel with The ports 24 are disposed-at right angles to the passages 25, and the ports 26am-arranged at right angles-with .respect to `.the passages .27.

The ports.2'-1, as wellias the ports 26, are controlledby a valvular element 2S, which is circular in contour-and rides againstthe opposediinner .faces of-.the curved portions of the partitions 18 and also against the inner endsof: the i nipples. y

The valvular'element .28 1s an oscillatory one and is provided with `dialnet-ricallyopposed pockets 29 lfor alternately. controlling the supply through the ports 24 and the exhaust-through the ports .26'.

The valvular element 28 is secured to an axial stem 30, which projects through an aperture in the outer side wall of the casing 11, and connected to the stem 30 is a driving disk 31. In the alternate positions ot the valve 18 the pocket 29 in the upper part thereof alternately connects the steam supply port -20 with the two inlet ports 24 whereas the lower pocket 29 alternately connects the exhaust pipe .J3 with the two ad- :jacent ports v26a11d the arrangement of the poclretsis such that as steamis being adlfmitted to one terminal ot the cylinder 7 through. the ports 2-/1and 15, the steam inthe opposite"extremity of thecylinder 7 operating against the other piston 11 is being exhausted througlrthe ports 15 and 26.

The disk 31 is provided with an eccentric pin 32 lconnected with a rod '33 having a. strap 34 attached to theopposite extremity which embraces an eccentric on the lcrank shaft 10 vwhereby longitudinal movement ot' the rod '33 is effected during operation ot the engine to produce an oscillatoryrmovcment oi the disl31 and valso the valve28.

vWhat I claim is: l

I A steam engine comprisinga cylinder having onlone side at opposite ends .a port, a

casingopeninginto saidl ports and Shaving aligning inwardly extending supp-ly and. ex-

haust ynipples `respectively at theitop :and

7bottomit-hereof, spaced vertical .partitions within saidcasing and havingicurved :por-

tions coacting with the inner ends of the nipples toforni a circular .valve chamber, said nipples in connection with said partitions providing a pair of inletxand a pair of outlet ports, means extended from the upper and 'lower ends'ot` said-partitionsand forming in connection witlrthe top and 4bottom of the casing respectively apair 7otoppesitely disposed supply passages leadingrrom said inlet ports and a pair of oppositely "disposed exhaust passages leading to said exhaust ports, anda shiftable valve bearingagainst the wallrof said chamber and having diametrically disposed pockets for alternately openingl said inlet ports land said exhaust ports.

In testimony whereof, I i'iltl'ix myr signature hereto.

ANTHONY ,'1. SM I TH. 

